Stoke City’s summer offer for Ben Davies collapsed because it was “nowhere near” Rangers’ transfer demands for the defender.
That’s according to Heart & Hand host David Edgar, who provided details of the transfer on the platform’s Daily Update for 18/09/23.
Speaking after Ben Davies claimed publicly that he never wanted to leave Rangers this summer, it is claimed that the Ibrox side were keen to move the centre-back on.
This comes after a stuttering first season in Glasgow following a potential £4m switch from Liverpool with Rangers yet to see an effective return for their investment.
With Stoke City reportedly launching a late loan bid for the player, Rangers media partners Heart & Hand suggest that the parameters of the deal would not give the Ibrox side freedom in the transfer market.
It comes with reported interest in frozen out Leicester City defender Harry Souttar potentially hinging on Ben Davies leaving the club before the window closed.
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“No doubt” Rangers would’ve sold Ben Davies
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that Rangers would’ve moved Ben Davies on in the summer if they could’ve,” said David Edgar.
“I don’t think we should sit here and try and pretend that wasn’t the case.
“But he wanted to stay, he has stayed, the offer Rangers got from Stoke was nowhere near, it was basically ‘you pay all his wages and we’ll take him’ which is the worst of both worlds for Rangers.
“Again, he’s back in the side. If you’ve got a guy there and the window shuts and you’re paying him a lot of money, try and get something out them, absolutely.
“It’s a bit like Matondo, whose come in and is least contributing now after basically being a waste of a wage for a year.
“We’re not in a position to write people who are earning over £1m a year from us off and have them sitting in the stands every week.”
Ben Davies’ start to life at Rangers has been badly disrupted by injury and a perceived lack of mental fortitude/concentration with the Ibrox defence’s confidence shot to pieces.
Returning in the 2-0 victory over St Johnstone, coincidentally the ex-Preston star’s first appearance of the season and first start since April, it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
Michael Beale praised the centre-back following the victory in Perth whilst Ben Davies has been discussing his Rangers career after returning to the side.